Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Smart City-ing..!!

Free broadband for all, and gigabit for those who can afford it.

Many Mayors are talking about Smart Cities.. and their dreams or plans to transform their own Megapolises.. This noise comes from Asia, Africa and Middle East.. Yet, almost none is capable to bring these words into reality.. It is all about the definition and what is meant by the Smart-City-ing..?

This is not about cheap digital devices, cyber tools, or software businesses.. It is about the freedom of information and connectivity to be granted to every citizen; which would enable smart use of civic and domestic utilities.. and eventually the progression of livelihood.. It is a Sociopolitics at the bottom line..

Usually the speechless achievers in London, New York, Sydney, Tokyo and Berlin.. who had already brought the future, and sustain it.. Now LA is providing a challenging example..

Los Angeles is about to unleash one of the most ambitious city-led broadband projects to date, with the goal of bringing fiber to all of its 3.5 million residents and all businesses.

Next month, the city plans to issue an RFP (request for proposals) "that would require fiber to be run to every residence, every business, and every government entity within the city limits of Los Angeles," Los Angeles Information Technology Agency GM Steve Reneker told Ars today. The City Council this morning unanimously voted to move forward with drafting the RFP and will vote again in a few weeks to determine whether it's ready for release, he said.

LA expects the fiber buildout to cost $3 billion to $5 billion, but the cost would be borne by the vendor. "The city is going into it and writing the agreement, basically saying, 'we have no additional funding for this effort.' We're requiring the vendors that respond to pay for the city resources needed to expedite any permitting and inspection associated with laying their fiber," Reneker said. "If they're not willing to do that, our City Council may consider a general fund transfer to reimburse those departments, but we're going in with the assumption that the vendor is going to absorb those up-front costs to make sure they can do their buildout in a timely fashion."

The new fiber network would offer free Internet access of 2Mbps to 5Mbps (possibly subsidized by advertising) and paid tiers of up to a gigabit. The fiber network would also power Wi-Fi hotspots in public areas.

The winning bidder would not be required to offer landline phone service or television, but it's likely that they would. "I would think that's how they'll justify the buildout, is being able to offer triple play [packages]," Reneker said.

Residential broadband in LA today typically ranges from 5Mbps to 50Mbps from the likes of AT&T, Time Warner, Verizon, Cox, and Charter. Gigabit speeds are available to businesses, but at a higher price than other communities, Reneker said. By expanding gigabit access and hopefully lowering the price, LA hopes to attract new entrepreneurs and keep existing businesses from leaving the city.

Reneker said the network would be open, meaning the vendor would have to sell access on a wholesale basis to other network providers that want to deliver services over the fiber. "We're not looking at trying to... be monopolistic and try to force anybody out of the market," he said. The winning bidder should make out well, though, as it would gain lots of new residential, business, and government customers.

The RFP would favor companies that can offer not only fiber Internet but also cellular service and data center hosting. That makes AT&T and Verizon possible candidates. In one potential scenario, the city would pay the winning vendor for its monthly broadband, phone, cellular, and data center needs. Los Angeles has 24 distributed data centers that it would like to modernize and consolidate while boosting disaster recovery and replication, so the data center component alone would be lucrative.

If you took out the cellular component, more companies beyond AT&T and Verizon could offer compelling bids, Reneker said. Time Warner, Cox, and Charter would be among those.
But Google Fiber in its current form wouldn't be considered. "They would have to change their business model," Reneker said of Google. "They only run residential. We're requiring a component for the business. That would be a new market for them. There are two things: would they be willing to change their model slightly, and also would they be willing to respond to an RFP? I don't believe they've responded to RFPs in the past in other communities, but they would need to here in Los Angeles."

This project was spearheaded by recently elected council member Bob Blumenfield and has the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Reneker said. Reasonable pricing for residents is important, as one-third of the city's population makes less than $45,000 a year. LA schools are also rolling out iPads to 650,000 students and struggling to ensure that everyone who gets one has affordable connectivity, he said. LA wants the winning bidder to make donations of home broadband equipment to nonprofits that distribute them to needy residents.

Once the RFP goes out, the city will take bids for three months. Contract negotiations with the winning bidder could "easily" take six to nine months because there will be numerous services, each with their own service-level agreements, according to Reneker.
It will be a lengthy process, but the time is right to get it started. "It just seems like now is a good time to give it a shot," he said.

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يمكنك أن تدرس الله من خلال كل شيء وكل شخص في هذا الكون، لأن وجود الله لا ينحصر في المسجد، أو الكنيسة أو في الكنيس. لكنك إذا كنت لا تزال تريد أن تعرف أين يقع عرشه بالتحديد، يوجد مكان واحد فقط تستطيع أن تبحث فيه عنه، وهو قلب عاشق حقيقي، فلم يعش أحد بعد رؤيته، ولم يمت أحد بعد رؤيته. فمن يجده يبقى معه إلى الأبد"You can recognize God through everything and everyone in the universe, because the existence of God is not limited to the mosque, church or synagogue. But if you still want to know where exactly is His throne; there is only one place where you can be looking for; which is the heart of a true lover.. No one did live after observing the God.. No one did die after either.. Who finds Him; stays with Him forever.. "

A Worldly Sudanese..

A Sudanese with a Global core.. Realizing how the taste marvelously varies across Countries, Continents, Religions and Cultures.. Believing we have to share it.. Denouncing the 2011 Sudanese Partition.. Follow ‏@adilsud

The People of Sudan

I feel greatly proud as my 2009 poster is appreciated among many people, websites and imaginations.. This is my own personal FACE; till my wounded SUDAN is inevitably retrieved..

Today's Tomorrow..

Despite both pain and frustration: nurture the kids, incubate the poor and mentor the illiterate.. Pray for their tomorrow to be better than our today..!

Stigma 2016

Trump-zitional Shock..

Stigma 2015

It was not the indescribable and unimaginable flood of refugees to Europe, but the media pitfalls reflecting the historical suspicion among nations.. Europe can't be raped by who already been unknowingly raped..!!

Stigma 2014

The search for happiness continues with no predictions.. Technology breakthrough failed to make the people happier, and when surveyed it was Nepal scoring the peak.. The ultimate contemporary contradictions between science and faith..

Stigma 2013

The Lady in Red at Gezi Park of Taksim Square; is a Turkish symbol of resistance to defend their Cultured Livelihood and Universal Competences..!

Stigma 2012

When women are tortured, raped, imprisoned for been outspoken against injustices, the entire Sudanese society is stigmatized and condemned

Stigma 2011

I’m absolutely provoked..! An Egyptian Muslim-dressed-women Protester been stripped-naked by Egyptian army soldiers in Cairo, on 17th December 2011.. Maybe it was a foolplay, an awful plot or a real drama; but certainly was a Dawn of Chaos..

Welcome with Love..

My Friend: Don't visit unnoticed.. Please put a note, a comment or a follow.. Your amazing journey had brought you here.. I’d love to get to know you.. This is all what LIFE is about..!!

Come or Return..!!

Return (in repentance), return! Whatever you are, return! Even if you are an unbeliever or a Magian or an idol worshipper, return! This court of ours is not a court of despair.Even if you have broken your repentance a hundred times,return!

Rumi

Homosapian

My ancestors were not Apes..

Sorry Mr. Darwin, as the current known Mankind was created from Adam PBUH only 15,000 years ago..!!

HOMO-SAPIAN or Human were investigated to be 90,000 years old on earth, as evolution from HOMO-NEANDERTHALENSIS or Neanderthals..

The conflict between Religion and Science was and still confused as Children of Adam had groomed with existent Homosapians; which was never documented..

This is my own acceptable rationale to explain or resolve..

Regretfully, scientists with religious affiliations are few; which hindered many issues from elaboration.. Where Adam & Eve been on earth? Was Noah's Flood allover earth? What were the attributions of Adam & his immediate Children? Should we distinct Adam's Children from Homosapian?

By My Niece.. Yasmin..

Stop Violence Against Women

As a Muslim, I’m instructed to be gentle to women, as a Man, I’m obliged by good manners as well, and as a Human, I’m wondering why some men will behave alike psycho animals to them..?? There is a big wrong-thing with those bully-men; and it is time to stop such shame.. Pls support..!

Cafe Sudan...

A Celebration of a Wonderful Country & People.. Click the Picture to Visit..!!

Police Brutality

A Tragic Violation of the Public Trust

Who's Me..?

I'm just a person with 50+ years of witnessing life, people and universe.. yet still green, naive and smiling.. Been gifted the ability to watch, think and write, yet still learning.. Always keep wondering where to go and what to do.. Scared to death from life, and deeply amazed about the life in death.. Conventional Muslim in controversial world, and restless human being in a typical boring life..

I'm trying to bridge the gap between my tough rough generation and the capable following ones.. Mine had ignored the details; therefore many communities collapsed despite the noble intentions.. The following holds both brains and beauty all together, yet eventual to slide to either ways.. Yet, few knows how to use the brakes..!!

I never decline a friendship request.. I'm thankfully a friend to many, but how many are my friends..?

Life is a continuous journey to discover the unknown.. Yet, the unknown is always scary..!

I do not know life clearly enough, to stop being surprised.. I had many bad surprises..!!

It never crossed my mind to define myself..!!

Thanks to Эльхам saeed for asking..

About Me

Both my Brain and Heart, never stops or relaxes..!! It is a scientific fact, yet my own distinction..
I take nothing as granted till proven reasonable.. Value questioning and rationalizing everything.. Therefore, knowledge is my core substance..
I am driven by Love.. in all forms and shapes.. yet not to downgrade it for materialistics or indecency.. This is how I realize the world, the people, and my Creator swt..!!

Before We Go..

I don’t believe in IQ, but solely in Experiences.. IQ fits for exams, not for management..

Disrespecting the quick-catch-ups; which Egyptian called “Fahlawah” as extracted from a Persian noun for a “Clown’s Tricks”..

Denouncing the American Go-Getting; which in parallel supports materialism, greed and functional mercy..

I Don’t believe in quantitative democracy, but the qualitative one.. Don’t watch the media theaters, but the British one.. Don’t honor the countries, but the nations.. Don’t read Tabloids, but intelligence reports.. Don’t use static theories, but the variable Human-being..

Therefore, I have a few to friend with..!!Adil

سورة الكهف

More about me..!!

“Beyond Rightdoing and Wrongdoing, there is a vast Plain; where we all shall meet; one day..!!”

I believe that Rumi was marvelously gifted to quote this, Do you taste the deep meanings and concepts within..??

This is your blogger; Adil Mahgoub Abdalla Abdelseed (1955), a Sudanese professional, graduated as architect, grown as cultural preservation specialist, and had vast experience in real estate modeling, development planning & project management, affiliated to many international entities, and an academic researcher with diverse interests in history, public affairs and politics. Enjoys the ethnic integrations and communications, believes in Humanity and common referrals, goals; driven by the incredible taste of knowledge..

During my stay in Dubai, chance was great to develop and exercise my personal thoughts on how the things should be planned, done, and delivered..

Being on the cyber-sphere is an addiction.. Despite how wide our world had been, it seizes our endeavors within small screen that eliminates lots of realities.. Paradoxically, it is the new open world for information, data and intellectual treasures.. Therefore I’m always on-line, yet permanently within my own world..!!

Belong to Cosmopolitan breed that crosses boarders of places, cultures and professions.. Product of an ethnic and cultural diversities, and looking forward to expand it.. some way or another..!!

Successfully, I’m sailing among concepts, perceptions and religious parameters with no offense or confusion.. Many years had been consumed in hard work, and it is almost the time to review the accumulations and enjoy the results..

Traveled enough to adore being in London; where an appealing mindset.. However, love to discover people, cultures and places.. All are just evidences of our sole legacy as Mankind..

My age, my skin and my weight are all facts, but also misconceptions..!! There are many people who avoide my unspoken uncertainties..!!

Many others read my attributes on different scenes..!! No thanks to common stereotypes..!!

Passionate to Darfur, where my ancestors came from.. Thanks to a Mediterranean theme, which built up my being.. Free from any “Home-Sickness”.. Truly; ready for any “Cross-Boarders or Cultural” challenge..!!

Proud to be a Muslim, a Human being and a Man in a confused world..

Served among refugee camps, heritage sites, governmental agencies and a military school.. Dislikes the Money games and adore CSR.. Been once athlete, politician, architect, but likes more the “Projectized” title…

Simply; very content person in a loose yet interdependent world..!!

Within our psychic model as Mankind; I strongly believe on leading without dictatorship, protecting without bully-ship, and love without feminizing..!!

Despite all odds.. I always live in a “Love Story..”; real or virtual.. The looseness of feelings.. The miraculous steams of emotions.. The funny configuration of senses and things around… The extreme beauty and bright.. The flooding of goodness and purity.. The opening of heart, mind and soul all together at once.. and the magnificent simplicity that any complex thinking would never describe…!!

Love is the true state of life where poverty and fortune are equal, illness and health are the same, and colors are no longer defined.. When a person goes extremely naked with nothing to hide.. nothing to seek, and nothing to miss anymore..!! Simply, because he or she is in love..

Maybe shall accomplish my PhD research to add something, maybe shall contribute to modeling the true Islam, yet living and continuously be within my Love and Beloved..!!

Allah’s will..
Pray for me..
Be Blessed..

You may google me.. as Adilsud or Adil Abdalla..!!
adilsud@hotmail.com; ICOMOS, PMI, ULI, APMG, IFMA, BIFM, ACCE, IAPEI guess, I had managed to prove a point..!!